LV= County Championship Division Two: Leicestershire dominate day two against Essex

Ned Eckersley made an unbeaten century as Leicestershire dominated with bat and ball on day two against Essex.

Last Updated: 06/05/14 6:22am

Ned Eckersley: Hit an unbeaten 104

The wicketkeeper avoided a nervous night as he moved into triple figures in the penultimate over of the day, driving an Oliver Newby delivery through the vacant third man position and earning Leicestershire a second batting point in the process.

Eckersley was on 104 at the close, with Angus Robson unbeaten on 69 at the other end as Leicestershire reached 255-2, only 26 runs shy of Essex's tally.

The day began with Essex losing their final four wickets for just 27 runs.

Nathan Buck struck first, removing Kishen Velani for 26, and there was desperately little resistance thereafter, with the same bowler also taking the wicket of Newby to finish with figures of 5-76.

In other action, Rob Key passed 18,000 runs in first-class cricket with a magnificent century as his 197-run partnership with Brendan Nash put Kent firmly in control against Surrey at Canterbury.

The former England batsman struck 126 as Kent closed on 355-4 - a lead of 70. Key's 206-ball innings, which included 14 fours, came to an end when he chipped a Stuart Meaker delivery into the offside and was caught by Dominic Sibley.

Nash matched his captain's score before becoming the first of the duo to go - Zafar Ansari finally bringing the partnership to an end, Rory Burns with the catch - with the pair having taken their side's total from 131 for 328 with their third-wicket stand.

Earlier, Surrey managed to add just nine more runs to their overnight total of 276-8 before Stuart Meaker (19) and Jade Dernbach (one) were sent packing.

Worcestershire are in control against Glamorgan in Cardiff thanks to Gareth Andrew's career-best five-wicket haul.

Visiting skipper Daryl Mitchell added only eight to his overnight 101 as his side finished on 240 - but that proved enough for a first-innings lead of 85 as Glamorgan were fired out for 155.

Resuming on 232-9, Worcestershire, seeking a third win in four games this season, added eight in six overs before Mitchell edged to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace to give Dean Cosker figures of 5-39.

Andrew (5-40) then ripped through the Glamorgan line-up, with captain Wallace's unbeaten 51 the only resistance of note.

Mitchell and opening partner Matt Pardoe then took their side's lead into three figures by reaching 20 without loss before rain and then bad light stopped play.